X f folding cradle



2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. H. LACE.

FOLDING CRADLE.

No. 318,751. Patented May 26, 1885.

JOHN H. LACE, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OLIVER S. DALE, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT rricnt FOLDING CRADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,751, dated May 26, 1885.

Application filed September 30, 1884. (No model.)

T ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN H. LACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigan City, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Cradles, of which the followingis aspecification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of cradles wherein the body is suspended from the supportingframe and adapted to swing, and has for its object the provision of a cradle-body which can be compactly fold ed for shipment or storage; and the invention con- I 5 sists in the construction, combination, and ararrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation,

partly in section, of a cradle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my cradlebody folded and detached from the frame, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the frame of the cradle composed of upright pieces A A, arranged in pairs at each end of the cradle, and each pair connected at their upper ends by a bow-shaped piece, A secured thereto by screws or a. The uprights A A are curved at their lower ends, as shown, and the side pieces of each pair are connected by a longitudinal bar,

3 5 B, and plates 13, secured to said bar and uprights by screws 1), or otherwise. The curved lower ends of the uprights are provided with casters or wheels A for conveniently moving the cradle.

It will be observed that the uprights can be readily disconnected from the bows A and bars B by removing the screws a and plates 13, whereby the parts can be readily packed for shipment or storage.

G designates the body of the cradle composed of end and side sections, D E, respectively, the latter'of which also form the bottom by their inward curvature.

The end sections, D, each consist of a semicircular piece, d, connected at -its ends by a cross-bar, (2, having any suitable or preferred finish or mounting, as (2 secured thereto. The cross-bar d and semicircular piece cl are connected by parallel flat strips or pieces (1 The side sections, E, are each composed of a bar, E, hinged, as hereinafter described, to the end sections, curved slats c, and two parallel strips, E", which form the bOiltOlIl bar removably connected to the end sections and having the lower ends of the slats e secured between the same. The bar E, having a plate, 0, is connected to the end section by a plate, F, pivoted at its upper end, as at c, to the said bar to permit the same to have lateral movement, and at its lower end the said plate is pivoted, as atf to the semicircular piece (2 of the end section within a recess, f", formed therein, whereby the end section can have a swinging endwise movement. The parallel strips E are provided at each end with an end plate, 9, which embraces both of the said strips, as shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with a hook, g, which connects with a staple or socket-plate, 9 secured to the end section. The body of the cradle is suspended from the frame thereof by hooks G, linksH, and rings I, secured to the body, as shown.

\Vhen it is desired to fold the body after its removal from the supporting-frame, the hooks g are disengaged from the staples g by springing upwardly the lower and inner ends of the slats which compose the sides E, when said frames can be turned upon their pivots c and the sides folded one above the other by carrying the lower edge of each side upwardly and inwardly, one above the other, after which the end sections are folded, turning on their pivots f beneath the side sections by moving the tops of said end sections outwardly.

XVhen the cradle is opened and in position for use, the plate F,will fold within the recess formed in the semicircular piece (Z of the end section.

It will be observed that my invention provides a cradle the body and supporting-frame of which are strong, light, and durable in con struction, and one which can be readily and quickly folded for shipment or storage.

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principleor sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings. I would therefore have it understood that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my inventionas, for example, the ends of the slats can be mortised into a single rail.

I am aware that swinging and folding cradles, in which the sides and bottom are formed of the curved slats the lower ends of which are rigidly secured to a center piece, are not new; also, that it is old to fold the bottom of the cradle against one of its sides and then fold the sides one upon the other, the ends of the cradle being hinged to the sides.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a cradle, the combination, with the supporting-frame thereof, of a body composed of end and side sections, the side sections being hinged to the end sections by a double joint and adapted to be folded one upon the other, and the end sections to fold beneath the same, substantially as herein described.

2. In a cradle, the combination, with the supporting-frame thereof, of the side rails, curved slats, and bottom rails having end plates provided with hooks adapted to engage with staples secured to the inside of the end sections said rails and slats forming the sides and bottom of the cradle, substantially as herein described.

3. In a cradle-body, the combination of the side rails, curved slats, and bottom rails having end plates and hooks adapted to engage with staples on the end sections, and to be released from engagement therewith by springing the said slats upwardly, as herein described.

4. In a cradle-body, the combination, with the end sections having staples, of the side sections hinged thereto by a double joint and detachably connected therewith, whereby the sections are adapted to fold at approximately right angles upon each other, substantially as described.

5. In a cradle, and in combination with the supporting-frame thereof, a body suspended therefrom and composed of end sections having recesses and staples, and side sections having their upper rails hinged to the end sections by a double joint, and connected by curved slats with the bottom rails having hooks adapted to be detachably connected to the staples of the end sections, as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. LACE.

Witnessesi T. E. DONNELY, F. SNYDER. 

